Flashlight switch



1951 .1. G. SCHNEIDER 2,564,612

FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Filed June 21, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i IN VEN TOR. 1%Jam 5. SCHNEIDER.

ATTY' 1951 .1. G. SHNElDER 2,564,612

. FLASHLIGHT SWITCH I Filed June 21, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVTOR.JUHN [Z SCHNEIDER.

ATTK

Aug. 14, 1951 J. G. SCHNEIDER 2,564,612

FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Filed Jhne 21, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JUHN G.SEHNEIUEH.

Aug. 14, 1951 J. G. SCHNEIDER 2,564,612

FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Filed June 21, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ICE-11L- l 2/ zza/I"IJIIIIIII4 'IIIIIIIIII- v n I "1111" Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE FLASHLIGHT SWITCH John G. Schneider-,Toledo, Ohio 8Claims.- 1 This invention relates to flashlights, moreparticularlytonovel switch constructions which increase the utility of theflashlight.

An object of this invention is to provide a switch for aflashlight whichretains the normal flashlight appearance and its utilities and adds tc'place the use thereof beyond the limits ofeconomical production,dependable operation, or induce self -shorting within its circuit.

Other objects and advantages of this invention relating toth'e'arrangement, operation and function of" the related elements of thestructure, to

various details of construction, to combinations'ofparts'andto'economies of manufacture, will be apparent'to those skilledin the art'upon consideration of the following description and appendedclaims; ref'erencebeing had to the'accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification wherein like reference characters designatecorrespbndingparts in' the several views.

Refer-ring to the drawings:

Fig? 1 is" a side elevation of a flashlight'embodyingth'einventionherein;

Fig.2 is' a view of the portion of the flashlight casing which mountsthe switch;

Fig. 3-is a'distributed View of the parts forming-a preferred form ofthe switch mechanism;

Fig.- 4 is a-view on the line IV-IV, Fig. 1, withthe switch in offposition;

Fig. 51s a view similar to Fig. 4, with the switch in-blinker orflashing position;

Fig. G'is a view similar to Fig. 4, with the switch in steady lightposition;

Fig. 7 is a'view similar to Fig. 4, with the switch in test position;

Fig; 8isa View similar to Fig. 2, showing the casing adapted to mountand cooperate with a modified form of switch mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a distributed view of the parts of the modified form of theswitch for mounting on the casing of Fig.8;

Application June 21, 1949; SerialNo'. 100,397

Fig; 10 is a longitudinal section through the switch of Fig.-9,-with theparts in' off position;

and from-which position blinker be effected;

Fig. His 2. view similar toFig. 10, with the parts in steady lightposition;

Fig. 12 is a view similar toFig. 10, with the parts in test position;

Fig. l3'is a longitudinal section, similar to Fig.

operation may 4, throu'ghthe type of-fiashlight switch which em bodies apair of circuit controllers; this type also incorporating features ofthe invention herein a pluralit'yin series; of batteries I2, as'the enerRemovable cap hi normally closesgy source. one end of the casing andspring i6 positioned bythe cap to engage the housing and one pole of theenergy source places the conductor member ID in series therewith.

A-reflector I8 is mounted with the housing at the opposite end from thecap [4 and is electricallyinsulated therefrom in usual flashlightpractice; The reflector mounts lamp 20 with 'the threaded portion 22 ofits base in electrical'contact therewith and its base tip -24 or othercontact in electrical communication with the other pole of the energysource.

Conductor strip or bar 26 in contact with the reflector extendstherefrom along the interior ofthe casing an'dis insulated therefrom bynonconductor pad or strip 28. Rivets 30 or equivalent means fixedlymounts the bar 26' to the casing, these rivets also being insulatedagainst any directcontact therewith.

The bar 26 mounts-pin 32, remote from the reflector, as an electricterminal of the bar, which pin radially extends through an aperture 34in the casing In, which aperture is of greater diameter than the pin, sothere is no contact between the-pin and the casing. It is apparent anyelectrical connection between the terminal 3 2 and the casing l0completes the lamp circuit.-

A manually operable switch is provided having a reciprocatory contactstrip 36 shiftable relatively to the terminals, the casing and theswitchhousing and has four distinct stations between its limits ofmovement which may be designated ofi, flash or blinker, steady light,and test.

This contact strip 36 comprises a length of spring brass or bronzecentrally arched to provide a bridge portion 38 between its pincooperating terminus 46 and its casing engaging terminus 42 remotetherefrom. The terminus 42 is in the form of a reverse bend providing asmooth sliding contact cooperating along the casing as well as a seatengaging offset hereinafter more fully discussed.

A housing 44 is provided for the contact strip which comprises anescutcheon plate stamped from sheet metal and fixed to the casing III byrivet-like fastening means 46 which also anchor an insulation frameplate 48 between the housing and easing thereby insulating the housing44 from the casing I0.

The housing 44 is provided with a slideway 56 therein as a guide formanually shiftable metallic slide 52 projecting therethrough from thehousing interior wherein it is seated on the bridge portion 38 of thecontact strip 36. Shifting the slide along the slideway in turn shiftsthe contact therewith from station to station.

At one end of the,slideway or at off position, the slide 52 has aterminal offset 54 engaging seat 55 in the housing as a releasable catchholding the slide against non-intended movement. The spring nature ofthe contact acts to hold the slide against the inner face of the housingwith the catch in holding position. A slight depressing of the slidereleases the catch so that the slide may then be shifted away from thefirst or off station. Remote from the catch, the slide is provided witha pair of ears 58 maintaining the contact in proper alignment relativeto the coacting parts. In their ofi position (Fig. 4), the contactterminus 40 engages the casing I6 as does the terminus 42 and theintermediate bridge portion 38 is arched over and above the pin terminal32 such a distance that a depression of the slide 52 as far as thecontour of the parts permit will not bring the contact 35 intoengagement with the pin. Hence the circuit to the lamp remains open.

The slide 52 is shifted from the first station to the second station orthe flash or blinker position (Fig. This position may be determined andfelt by the operator, in that the terminus 42 engages seat 66, which maybe an opening in the casing I6. At this position the contact stillarches over the terminal 32 and the termini 46, 42, maintain theircontact with the casing Ill, but the terminus is brought into suchjuxtaposition as to the pin that a partial depression of the slidecauses a. contact between the terminus 46 and the pin 32. This lightsthe lamp and a release of the slide causes the spring element to shiftaway from circuit closing contact thereby extinguishing the light.

The slide may be shifted to the third or steady light station (Fig. 6).Here the contact terminus 48 rides up onto the terminal 32, the terminus42 rides into a seat 62 embossed in the housing it, while the oiiset 54engages an embossing 64 in the switch housing 44. These two engagementsnot only insure a firm contact for closing the lamp circuit, but permitthe operator to feel the movement of the slide into steady lightposition.

The fourth step moves the slide to test position or where the parts areso positioned the housing 44 and the casing II) are in series with thelamp therebetween and any connection between the housing and easingcompletes the circuit (Fig. 7) The terminus 46 still rides on theterminal 32 but the terminus 42 has shifted from its seat 62 to engagecontact 66, for convenience herein shown as an integral tongue extendingfrom the housing into its interior.

A device 68 to be tested has leads I0, I2, therefrom, one to contact thehousing 44 and the other to engage the casing I6. If a closed circuitexists between these lines, the lamp 20 will burn.

Flashlights embodying the push-button-inslide type of switch may alsoincorporate the test feature (Figs. 8 through 12). The casing I hereinmounts housing I44 which is insulated therefrom by non-conductor frameplate I48 and is anchored in place by means of rivet-like fasteningelements. This mounting provides a chamber I02 into which conductorstrip I26 extends from reflector H8 through intermediate insulation I28by Way of aperture I04 in the casing and Opening I06 through the plateI48. The strip I26 provides a terminal I68 within the chamber. Thehousing mounts a leaf spring element IIIl carrying a terminal II2 whichis movable toward and from the terminal I08 by push button II4 carriedin slide I52 shiftable along ways I56.

In off position (Fig. 10), the slide I52 is at one end of the ways I50and operation of the push button will close the circuit for blinkeraction. If the slide is shifted to the opposite end of the ways, thebutton holds this switch closed (Fig. 11), due to the canted extent ofthe strip I26 within the chamber I62. The housing is in series with thecasing due to metallic slide block II6 engaging the housing and terminalI26 on spring finger I22 in turn riveted to the casing. The insulationplate I43 is provided with an opening I24 exposing the terminal I26therethrough for this contact. When the flashlight is burning steady,the block or slide I it, serving as a secondary switch, may be shiftedtoward the push button and the slide has an insulation inset centralplug I24 which engages the terminal I25 thereby breaking the circuitbetween the housing and casing but retaining the housing in series withthe lamp. A test arrangement between the housing and casing is now ineffect.

A return of the slide I52 to off position resets the slide II6 to placethe housing in series with the casing.

The slide and button type of flashlight switch may also incorporatefeatures of the invention (Figs. 13 through 17). The switch housing 244is mounted on and insulated from the casing 200 by insulation frameplate 248. The lead 226 from the reflector is attached to the casinginterior by means of rivet-like fastening conductor elements 236 andinsulated from the casing by separator 226. The insulation of theseelements 230 is completed by pads or platforms 264, 266, surrounding theelements and exposin their termini in the chamber 262 to provideterminals 268, 2I0, therein.

The slide 252 is shiftable along way 256 and carries contact strip 236,having terminals 240, 242, variously positioned as to the terminals 208,2 ID, in the four stations or positions of the slide. A spring plate 2I2 disposed between the housing and contact strip mounts push button2I4. The plate 2I2 and strip 236 are provided with a detent and multipleseat construction 2I6 which indicates and holds the contactrelationships in the various stations.

In off position, the terminal 240 engages the casing 200, While theterminal 242 rests on pad 206 clear of terminal 2l0. At this station,terminal offset 2l8 from the strip 236 engages lugs 220 preventingoperation of the push button 214. These lugs 220 may be turned-inportions of the housing.

When the slide 252 is shifted to the second or blinker station, theterminal 240 still contacts the casing 200, the terminal 242 is shiftedalong platform 206 into close proximity to terminal 2! and the offset H8is clear of the lugs 220. Now, a depression of the push button 2l4 warpsthe terminal 242 into engagement with terminal 2 l0 and the lamp circuitis closed. A release of the button allows the spring plate 2|2, actingin cooperation with the spring material of the strip 236, to open thecircuit.

The third station in this form of the switch also establishes a steadylight condition for the circuit through the arrangement of the switchparts. The terminal 242 contacts and is held against terminal 2 [0 whilethe terminal 240 still engages the casing. At this station, the offset2|8 abuts the tongue 266 inwardly bent from the housing as a stopagainst shift of the slide beyond this third station without action bythe push button. In other words, without an extra movement on the partof an operator, this switch operates as in normal flashlight practice.

Now to convert the flashlight into a testing apparatus, the push buttonH4 is depressed to shift the offset 218 laterally of the stop 266 andwhile held depressed, the slide is moved into its fourth or teststation. Here the terminal 240 is shifted from the casing to engageterminal 208 while the terminal 242 is in contact only with insulation206. Now the casing and housing are in series with the lamp and aconnection therebetween by lines and 12 from a device 68 to be testedimparts a signal.

It will be seen features of the invention are readily adaptable into anyof the types of flashlight switches either slide, button-in-slide, orbutton and slide types.

It is to be understood that the above detailed description of thepresent invention is intended to disclose an embodiment thereof to thoseskilled in the art, but that the invention is not to be construed aslimited in its application to the details of construction andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since theinvention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various wayswithout departing from the spirit of the invention. The language used inthe specification relating to the operation and function of the elementsof the invention is employed for purposes of description and not oflimitation, and it is not intended to limit the scope of the followingclaims beyond the requirements of the prior art.

What is claimed and is desired to secure by United States LettersPatent:

1. In a flashlight, a metallic casing, a series lamp circuit thereforincluding said casing, a primary switch for said circuit, a metallicmember providing a housing for said switch said member beingelectrically insulated from said casing, and a secondary switch mountedby said member and shiftable therein for connecting and disconnectingsaid member into said circuit.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein means are provided tolimit the opening of the circuit by the secondary switch to a time whenthe primary switch is in circuit closing position.

3. In switch mechanism for a flashlight, a metallic member mounted onthe casing of said flashlight and electrically insulated therefrom, afirst switch mounted on said member operable for the normal operation ofsaid flashlight, and a second switch mounted by said member operable toplace said metallic member in and out of electrical contact with saidcasing.

4. Switch mechanism for a flashlight including a metallic member mountedon the casing of said flashlight and electrically insulated therefrom,said member providing a switch housing, said casing providing oneterminal for the circuit of said flashlight with the other terminalextending from within said easing into the housing, a first slideshiftably mounted by said housing and including means movable intocontact with said latter terminal, and a second slide mounted on saidmetallic member shiftable to place said metallic member into and out ofelectrical contact with said first named terminal.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said second slide isrendered inoperative unless said first slide is in terminal contactingposition.

6. Switch mechanism for a flashlight wherein the casing of saidflashlight is one terminal of the circuit for said flashlight and theother terminal is provided by a conductor extending through said casingto the exterior thereof, said mechanism embodying a metallic membermounted on said casing, electrically insulated therefrom and providing ahousing for said latter named terminal, a pair of slideways defined bysaid member, a first slide in one of said slideways operable as a switchto open and close the circuit between said latter named terminal andsaid metallic member, and a second slide in the other of said slidewaysoperable to open and close the circuit between said metallic member andsaid casing.

'7. The structure set forth in claim 6 wherein the arrangement of saidslides one as to the other, precludes operation of the second slide by apredetermined positioning of said first slide.

8. In flashlight switch mechanism for a flashlight having a metalliccasing, means mounting and electrically insulating said mechanism on theflashlight casing, a first switch in said mechanism for normallyoperating said flashlight, and a second switch in said mechanismoperable to electrically connect and disconnect said mechanism with saidcasing.

JOHN G. SCHNEIDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,296,404 Koretzky Mar. 4, 19192,059,029 Pryor Oct. 27, 1936 2,128,810 Fortine Aug. 30, 1938 2,185,849Humeston Jan. 2, 1940 2,256,129 Tainer Sept. 16, 1941 2,471,032 Gray etal May 24, 1949

